Machine for impregnating box-toe material for boots and shoes



W. F. PACKARD.

MACHINE FOR IMPREGNATING BOX TOE MATERmL FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13. NHL

Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

W F. PACKARD. MACHINE FOR IMPREGNATING BOX TOE MATERIAL FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13 l9l7.

Patented Nbv. 16, 1920.

2 snssrs-sne5r 2.

TUUQTD% 330w mm UNITED STATES WILLIAM F. PACKARD, OF BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR IMPREGNATING BOX-TOE MATERIAL FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented N V. 16, 1920.

Application filed March 13, 1917. Serial No. 154,582.

Z '0 all w from it may concem Be it known that 1, WILLIAM F. PACKARD,

' a citizen of the United States, residing at Brockton, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Im rovement in Machines for impregnating ox-Toe Material for Boots and Shoes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a machine for impregnating box-toe material for use in boots and shoes.

In the manufacture of boots and shoes, it is generally customary to use what are termed box-toes for preserving the shape of the toe portions during wear. A boxtoe is a blank of suitable material such as felt, for example, which is coated or permeated with a stiffening solution or com: position and is incorporated in the toe-portion of the shoe between the lining part and the outer or leather part and is lasted with those parts.

As a rule in making box-toes, felt or other suitable material is treated while in sheet form with a stiffening solution or composition and afterward the box-toes are died out in the form of blanks the edges of which are generally skived.

The operation of dieing and skiving are, as a rule, performed after the solution or composition has dried out and is in a hardened condition. When the blanks are to be used in shoes, however, it is necessary to soften them by the application of heat, or water or a suitable solvent, dependent upon the character of the stiffening substance, in order that the blanks may be softened and made pliable to permit of being formed or molded around the lasts preparatory for the lasting operation.

This method of preparing boXtoes is ob j ectionable for several reasons. In the skiving operation it is difficult to get a smooth feather edge on the box-toe after it has been hardened by the stifiening compound. Furthermore, the effect of softening the stiffened blank by the application of heat or a solvent is temporary and the blanks frequently harden again before the lasting process is completed, thereby preventmg the best results being secured. This is especially true in cases where the blank is rendered pliable by the application of heat; since the blank hardens as soon as it cools and long before the operations upon it are finished.

The main object of my invention is to pro' vide a machine for impregnating box-toe material which can be used where the shoes are being manufactured in order to produce box-toes in the best of condition for such use and in quantities as required.

Another object is to provide a machine which is automatic and does not require the exclusive services of an operator.

A further object is to secure a machine which is compact, simple in construction and operation and of low cost of construction.

Other objects of the invention will be more specifically set forth and described hereinafter.

The preferred embodiment of my invention contemplates a machine adapted to be operated by hand or power, having provision for taking automatically from a stack of suitable blanks, one blank at a time, feeding it through a stiffening solution or compound and delivering it in a saturated and pliable condition ready to be incorporated in a shoe.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a machine constructed and operated in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the sanie; Fig. 3 is a side elevation and Fig. 4 is a detail view.

Referring to the drawings in which is shown a machine constructed and operated in accordance with my invention, 5 designates a tank or receptacle for containing a suitable stiffening solution or compound, the tank being mounted on a suitable base 6. Within the tank is arranged a guideway 7 made up of plates 8 arranged substantially parallel, with a space between, for the passage of the box-toes through the tank. The guideway, in longitudinal section, is curved sothat the central portion of the guideway is near the bottom of the tank 5 and-the two ends, one serving as an entrance and the other as an exit, project out of the tank. At suitable intervals along the guideway are arranged in pairs feed-rolls 9 provided with projecting pins 10 to grip the box-toes and thus feed them through the guideway when the rolls are revolved. The plates 8 making up the guideway are loosely fitted together, spaces being left between the plates and the rolls, and the sides of the guideway and on one end the shafts are provided with ratchet-wheels 12 so that the rolls may be rotated, when the machine is in operation, by an endless chain 14. Bushings 16 and caps 17 are provided to prevent the stiffening fluid from leaking from the tank around the shafts 11.

In the illustrated machine three pairs of feed-rolls 9 are shown, but this number may be varied, dependent upon the length of the guideway and the size of the box-toes, since t insure feeding, the forward end of the box-toe must be gripped by any pair of rolls before the rear end of the boxtoe'has left the preceding pair of rolls.

Although the box-toe blanks may be fed into the tank either-by automatic means or by hand; I prefer to use the former means and one such is shown comprising a table 20 supported upon a standard 21 mounted on the base 6 near the entrance end of the tank. The box-toe blanks 23 are arranged in a pile or stack, (see Fig. 1) near that end of the table adjacent the tank and are held in a compact relation by means of a follower 2a fixed on the lower end of a vertical rod 25 having a weight 26 on its upper end. The rod is supported in an upright position by and slides freely through a crosspiece 27 mounted on two supporting rods 28 set on the table 20. A transverse bar 29, having its ends recessed to receive the rods 28, serves as guide for th follower in its vertical movement. A lock 30 may be pro vided for holding the rod 25 in a raised position to permit a stack of blanks to be inserted in proper position, the lockbeing held normally i a lOCklng pos1t1o by a spring 31. p

In order to feed the blanks one at a time, I provide a sliding plate 35, preferablyhaving a pointed end, and being provided with two downwardly projecting points 36 on its lower surface, which points engage the top surface of the table 20 and serve to hold the point of the feeding plate a slight distance above the surface of the table, so that when the plate is moved forwardly the point is pushed into the stack of blanks between the lowest blank and the one just above, thereby separating the bottom blank from the rest f the stack. As the plate continues its forward journey in the feeding movement, the two points 36, 36, engage the side of the toe blank and push it out from underneath the stack toward the tank.

T he reciprocating movement of the feedcured to a cross-piece 37 which slides upon 7 two guiderods 38 mounted in and between suitable cross-pieces 4L0 fastened to the table 20 by screw 41, th cross-piec 4E0 nearer the stack of blanks having an opening 42 through which the feeding plat recipro rates. Upon suitable standards 5 is mounted a shaft 46 carrying a large feed-roll l7 provided with points 18 on its surface for gripping the toe blanks. shaft is mounted a large ratchet-wheel 50 over which the chain 1d passes. To each end of the shaft is fixedly secured an arm 52 pivotally connected to one end of an arm 53, the other end of which is provided with a slot 54 and connected by a suitable stud 55 to the cross-piece 37 so that as the shaft revolves, the cross-piece, through the medium of the arms 52 and 53 is reciprocated horizontally carrying the plate 35 with it and thereby effecting the feeding of the blanks. The lot 54 permits an adjustment to be made to regulate the path of the plate.

Arranged above the feed-roll is an auxiliary roll mounted on a shaft 61, which is journaled in and between the ends of two arms 63 pivotally mounted at 64 upon suitable brackets 65 secured one on each side of the tank. The auxiliary roll 60 is pivotally mounted so that it may be raised at the appropriate time to permit a toe blank to be fed in between it and the feed-roll 47 after which it is dropped back and serves to hold the blank against the feed-roll 47 to insure the feeding of the blank into the guideway in the tank. T raise the auxiliary roll 60 at the proper time a wheel is mounted on one end of the shaft e6 carrying the feedroll 17 and is provided with a pin 71 adapted to engage a cam plate 72 fixed on one of the arms 63 carrying the auxiliary roll. In Fig. 1 the operation due to the pin 71 and cam 72 is illustrated, the auxiliary roll being shown in full lines in its normal position and in dotted lines in its position when raised by the cam during the operation of the machine to permit a toe blank to be fed forward between the main feed-roll and the auxiliary roll without obstruction.

For the purpose of controlling the amount of saturation of the box-toes as they emerge from the tank and in order to remove any surplus stiffening compound from the On one end of the blanks and to deliver them in a soft pliable roll 81 is journaled in. sliding bearings 84 which in turn are mounted in frames 85 pivings is shown a pulley 94; mounted on the otally mounted on the shaft 82. The bearings 84 are maintained in such position that the roll 81 is pressed into engagement with the roll by means of springs 87, said springs abutting at one end the bearing 8&

and at the other end a screw 90 threaded through the top of the frame 85 by means of which the pressure exerted by the springs 87 may be regulated. A plate 92 is provided over which the blanks slide when emerging from the guide-way and from between the pressure rolls and a supporting table 93 is furnished to receive the treated blanks.

Although the machine may be operated by hand, I prefer to use power and in the drawshaft 82 and an idler 95. The pulley 94L may be connected by a belt or other means to any suitable source of power.

The belt or chain 14, it will be noticed, (see Fig. 3) is so connected that the revolution of the shaft 82 by power operates the main feed-roll and the various pairs of feedrolls for feeding the blanks.

In case the stiffening mixture or solution is one which requires heat, or which can be used to better advantage when heated, a coil of pipe 98 may be provided so that the mixture may be kept at a regulated temperature by means of steam. Of course, instead of providing a coil, the tank itself may be steam-jacketed in the usual manner.

The operation of my machine is very simple. After a number of blanks of felt or other suitable material have been arranged in a stack upon the table, as shown in Fig. 1, and the tank has been filled with a suitable stiffening or hardening compound and the machine is started in operation, the various feed-rolls, through the medium of the chain 14:, are rotated. The rotation of the main feed wheel through the arms 52 and 53 imparts a horizontal reciprocating movement to the feeding plate. As the plate moves forwardly, that is from left to right as shown in F 1, the point of the plate enters between the lowest blank and the one next to it, separating the two, and when the points 36 on the plate in its forward movement engage the lowest toe blank the continued movement of the plate pushes the blank forward toward the feed-roll H and the auxiliary roll 48. The cam block and cam pin 72 and T1 are so arranged and timed that just before the toe blank reaches the point at which these two rolls engage, the auxiliary roll is raised thereby permitting the toe blank to continue its course without meeting any obstruction. After the blank has proceeded a short distance, the auxiliary roll then drops, pressing the blank down upon the main feed-roll and causing the pins of the feed-roll to catch the blank and feed it forward into the guideway. Before the blank has entirely left the main feed-roll and the auxiliary roll, its forward end is caught by the first pair of feed-rolls which then feed it forward to the next pair and so to push the stack of blanks downwardly into a position where the lowest blank can be fed to the tank on the next forward movement of the feeding plate. By this means the blanks are fed continuously through the machine one after another until the stack has been exhausted when a new stack may be inserted and the operation repeated.

It is to be observed that by the use of this machine the box-toe material may be prepared ready for use in a shoe factory. This is a great advantage because when so made the box-toes will remain soft and pliable for a suflicient length of time to allow all of the necessary operations, such as lasting, etc., to be performed upon the shoe before the boxtoe has thoroughly dried and hardened. Furthermore, when operated by power, the machine is automatic until the stack of blanks is exhausted and requires the attention of an operator for the purpose of replenishing the blanks only.

It is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the precise form shown and described as it is capable of being embodied in various other forms not shown and I desire to claim the invention broadly except where specifically limited in the following claims.

What I claim is 1. In a machine for impregnating box-toe material, the combination of a holder for a stack or pile of box-toe blanks and means adapted to be moved forward between the lowermost blank and the rest of the pile for first entirely separating the lowermost blank from the rest of the pile and then when separated for feeding the lowermost blank forward from under said pile.

2. In a machine for impregnating box-toe material, the combination of a holder for a stack or pile of box-toe blanks, reciprocating means adapted on its forward movement to be inserted between the lowermost blank and the rest of the pile for first entirely separating the lowermost blank from the rest of the pile and then when separated for feeding the lowermost blank forward from under said pile.

3. In a machine for impregnating box-toe material, the combination of a holder for a stack or pile of box-toe blanks, a feeding plate adapted to be moved forwaid between the lowermost blank and the rest of the pile for first entirely separating the lowermost blank from the rest of the pile and then when separated for feeding blank forward from under said pile.

4. In a machine for impregnating box-toe material, the combination of a holder for a stack or pile of box-toe blanks, a reciprocating plate adapted on its forward movement to pass between the lowermost blank and the rest of the pile for first entirely separating the lowermost blank from the rest of the pile and then when separated for feeding the lowermost blank forward from under said pile.

5. A machine for impregnating box-toe material having, in combination, means for holding a stack or pile of boX-toeblanks, a follower for pressing said blanks downwardly, a reciprocating plate adapted on its forward movement to pass betweenthe low ermost blank and the rest of the pile for first entirely separating the lowermost blank from the rest of the pile and then when separated for feeding the lowermost blank forward from under said pile.

6. A machine for impregnating boX-toe material having, in combination, means for holding a stack or pile of boX-toe blanks, a

plate having a forward sharp edge, and means for reciprocating said plate in order that the plate on its forward movement may first separate the lowermost blank from the rest of the stack or pile and then feed it forward.

7.-A machine for impregnating box-toe material having, in combination, a holder for a stack or pile of box-toe blanks, a follower for holding down said blanks, a plate provided with points on its under face and means for reciprocating said plate; all being so arranged that the said plate on its forward movement first separates the lower .most blank from the rest of the stack or pile and then feeds it forward, the points on the under surface of the said plate engaging the rear edge of the bank.

8. A machine for impregnating box-toe the lowermost material having, in combination, a holder for a stack orpile of box-toe blanks, a fol lower for holding down said blanks, a plate provided with points on its under face,

meansfor reciprocating said plate, said material, the combination of a table, a holderfor a stark or pile of box-toe blanks, said holder being mounted on said table, a plate slidably mounted on said table and adapted to be inserted between the lowermost blank and the remaining blanks in said stackor pile for entirely separating said lowermost blank from the rest of said pile, said plate having on its under side a plurality of downwardly projecting points for engaging the rear edge of said lowermost blank when said blank has been separated from the rest of said pile and means for vreciprocating said plate in order to feed said lowermost blank forward.

10. In a machine for impregnating boxtoe material, the combination of a table, a holder for a stack or pile of box-toe blanks, said holder being mounted on said table, a plate slidably mounted on said table and adapted to be inserted between the lowermost blank and the remaining blanks in said stack or pile vfor entirely separating said lowermost blank from the rest of said pile, said plate having on its under side. a .plurality of downwardly projecting points for engaging the rear edge of said lowermost blank when said blank has been separated from the rest of said pile, means for reciprocating said plate in order to feed said lowermost blank forward and a pair of transfer rolls for gripping said blank and feeding it forward.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of February,

1917. r -WILLIAM F. PACKARD. 

